'I Was Born Here': 9-Month Pregnant US Citizen Lands In Hospital After Immigration Raid
Cary Lopez Alvarado, 28, experienced sharp stomach pains and was hospitalised, with doctors closely monitoring her and her unborn child following the ordeal
A nine-month pregnant US citizen was hospitalised after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Hawthorne, California, sparking outrage and renewed scrutiny over immigration enforcement practices.
Cary Lopez Alvarado, 28, was apprehended by ICE on June 8, just a week before her due date. According to Lopez Alvarado, agents 'shoved her", causing her to lose her balance as she tried to shield her stomach. 'They started grabbing me from both sides, and I ducked down to sort of shield my stomach because I was afraid they were going to hurt me," she told Telemundo 52. She added: 'I told them it [her due date] was June 17, and they said, 'OK, your baby is going to be born here, but you're from Mexico, right?' And I told them no."
'I was born here," Alvarado told Telemundo 52 in Spanish. 'I was born in Los Angeles, I was born in Hollywood Hospital."
NBC Los Angeles reported that after her release, Alvarado experienced sharp stomach pains and was subsequently hospitalised, with doctors closely monitoring her and her unborn child following the ordeal.
What Led to the Arrest
The incident began when masked men in Border Patrol uniforms followed a vehicle carrying two undocumented workers, including Alvarado's partner, into a private parking lot, NBC reported. Alvarado and her cousin, both US citizens, opened the gate for the group. When agents attempted to enter the property, Alvarado blocked the door and asked them to leave, citing private property rights. Agents, however, claimed the parking lot was not private and proceeded to arrest Alvarado, her partner, her cousin, and the co-worker.
Public Outcry and Context
The case has drawn widespread condemnation, especially as it comes amid intensified immigration enforcement efforts. President Donald Trump has pledged to launch the largest mass deportation effort in US history, with increased ICE raids and stricter border controls.
Advocacy groups and community members have called for accountability and greater oversight of ICE operations. 'This incident raises serious questions about the treatment of US citizens and the protocols followed during immigration enforcement," said a spokesperson for a local immigrant rights organisation, as reported by NBC News.
The incident comes amid several thousand people taking to the streets of New York City to protest the immigration policies of Trump, after a series of raids by ICE sparked protests across the country.
'No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here," chanted protesters who initially gathered at Foley Square, a plaza in front of a courthouse where several migrants were detained by law enforcement, news agency AFP reported.
The march in New York was more peaceful than its counterpart in Los Angeles, where ongoing demonstrations between protesters and police have spurred Trump to deploy thousands of National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines.
First Published:
June 11, 2025, 16:23 IST
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